Waiting on Wednesday - November 30, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the image above will take you straight to her post and widget.

Today I have a double edition of Waiting on Wednesday to share.  I couldn't choose just one book this week, so I have picked two!  Both of these titles sound absolutely intriguing and I can't wait until they are available for purchase so I can read them both.

First up is a YA dystopian with... vampires!  Since I've finally started reading vampire novels again and I love dystopian fiction, I thought that this would be an awesome book to read.  My first choice is Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London, which is coming from HarperTeen on May 29, 2012.

From Goodreads:

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

 My second choice is a YA fantasy/historical fiction.  It takes place in Brittany, which piqued my interest right away, as I have never read a book set there before.  The heroine of this tale is Death's handmaiden, which makes it all the more interesting.  Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers will be available on April 3, 2012 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (aren't they coming out with some fantastic books in 2012?).

From Goodreads:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Winner Announcement - Bump in the Night Brawl Giveaway

I am pleased to announce the winner of Starting the Next Chapter's Bump in the Night Brawl giveaway.  The winner of 1 of the 6 Team Werewolf books is...

Susan of A Soul Unsung!

Congratulations, Susan, and thanks to everyone who entered.  Don't forget, I still have a giveaway for a copy of Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton, which will end at midnight EST next Tuesday. Also, my birthday giveaway begins in just 2 more days. Hope to see you then!

Review: Dark Inside

by Jeyn Roberts
publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
date of publication: November 1, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 336
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

What I Thought

What can I say about Dark Inside without over-simplifying?  To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book feels like taking the quick and easy way out with regard to my feelings after reading it.  There are so many parts of this book that led me to alternately get lost in my own imagination and sit upon the edge of my seat with bated breath.  It is such a tangle of thrills, sadness, and horror that I am left unsure as to what aspect I enjoyed the most.  Suffice it to say, Dark Inside featured the best of all aspects that make a book appealing to me.

The plot that runs throughout this book will stay with me for quite some time.  It is truly terrifying in that it doesn't involve zombies or monsters.  The threats involved are Mother Nature, herself, and the very darkest recesses of the human mind.  The fact that some unknown catalyst is causing the majority of humanity to turn into ruthless killers is altogether chilling.  As I thought about the possible causes and ramifications of such an event, I felt even more disturbed.  This isn't a story you will be likely to forget for a long, long time.

The characters whose stories we get to view are each compelling in their own ways.  Mason, Aries, Michael, Clementine, and the mysterious narrator known as "Nothing," each bring something different to the table.  Each has a different heart break, a different strength, a different motivation, a different personality, and a different outlook on life, all of which lead them in the same direction as time goes on.  I can't choose a particular favorite from amongst this cast of characters due to the sheer greatness of all of them.  These characters are so well-written and imbued with such spark that it is very easy to become invested in each one.

Finally, let's talk about setting.  Dark Inside begins with 4 different towns in which the 4 different characters live.  Each town is hit by catastrophe in different ways.  This goes to show just how far-reaching the mysterious events behind the end of the world truly are.  Though each town is a different size and affected in different ways, they all share a common problem: the Baggers (the term used to describe the killers at several points throughout the book).  Whether the town falls to earthquakes, bombs, or a type of genocide involving the unaffected, each setting is the same in that nothing will ever be the same again.  As the characters travel across their countries and make their ways toward each other, we catch glimpses of other places that have been struck by disaster in different ways.  It is a truly horrifying landscape against which the story takes place, and the descriptions given make each come to life in the mind's eye.  This aspect of the book is so well done that I have absolutely no complaints.

If you are a fan of dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction, then you have absolutely got to read Dark Inside.  There is so much action, description, and character-building taking place within the pages of this book that you won't be disappointed.  Though a second book hasn't been mentioned so far as I can tell, I hope that we will be able to continue following these characters throughout this tragic, horrible world they are left with.  This was a truly satisfying read that I can see myself reading over again in the future.
 

Top Ten Tuesday 3 - Top Ten Books on My TBR List for Winter

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from The Broke and the Bookish.  The purpose of this meme is to create a list based on weekly prompts.  Just link back to The Broke and the Bookish, then add your name and blog post to their link widget.  That's it!

Well, to say that this was a difficult list to compile would be an understatement.  I have a huge list of books that I have yet to read.  It's actually quite ridiculous.  I might as well open my own library, at this point.  I haven't reached the amount of books held within our local library's YA section, but if this keeps up, I will be catching up more and more quickly.  In any case, here is the list of books I hope to read during the winter season.

Top Ten Books on My TBR List for Winter

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.

And that’s only the beginning of the end.

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.
When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal. 

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.
A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.
While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember. 

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . .

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger. 
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.
Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.
Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

 

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

A dark and lush paranormal romance set in a richly reimagined New Orleans—now in paperback!Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.Her search for answers uncovers a message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Review: The Space Between

by Brenna Yovanoff
publisher: Razorbill
date of publication: November 15, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 363
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

What I Thought 

I had very high expectations for The Space Between, as I had loved The Replacement so very much.  Brenna Yovanoff's writing is so fully of grit, yet has a flawless quality that makes my English major heart go pitter-pat.  The description promised an intriguing tale full of eeriness, sadness, and beauty.  While the book did deliver on several of those aspects, there was a little something missing for me that I had counted upon finding within.  While the plot was everything I hoped it would be, other areas failed to capture my full attention.

First and foremost, the plot was amazing.  The whole idea of a story surrounding the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith who has grown up lonely in a steel-forged world is intriguing and unique.  The background information and politics that lay the groundwork for the events that take place are truly mind-boggling and so amazingly detailed that I found myself very impressed by the groundwork that has been laid to support every other aspect of the book.  How the demons do things in this book was much more surprising than I would have originally thought.  There were some truly horrific things in Pandemonium.  However, there was an added element of business included that took me completely by surprise.  It all came together to provide me with a unique reading experience, as well as a new take on things that maintain the horror while offering something fresh.

The characters, while very compelling by the time the main action commenced, were difficult for me to connect with, at first.  Daphne was somewhat flat (though this is somewhat explained by the nature of the world she lives in) and Truman, in all of his dysfunction, almost completely lost me.  I felt for him, but I found it difficult to keep up with his thoughts, at times.  However, once he began to clear up and started working with Daphne to find Obie, I grew to respect him much more.  He is a boy who has had a difficult time and lacks a certain something that will carry him through.  Seeing him begin to come to a realization and begin to fight was beautiful, and I loved how he developed as a character, in the end.

The setting is what I had the most difficulty with.  I am not sure exactly why it is so, but I found myself having a hard time picturing everything clearly.  The most clear setting was Pandemonium, but when it came to the descriptions on earth, I became a bit lost.  In a way, it speaks to the nature of both Daphne, who has existed for her entire life in Pandemonium, and Truman, a boy cut off from his surroundings and reality.  For me, however, I didn't feel as much of an impact and wasn't left with many impressions of the backgrounds outside of Pandemonium.
If you are looking for a new take on demons in a book, you should definitely give The Space Between a try.  Although it didn't ring all of my bells, it still proved to be a pretty good read.  I don't regret having read it and am already eager to see what else Brenna Yovanoff will write in the future.  The writing is truly lovely, so if you appreciate good prose, you will definitely want to check this one out!

Starting the Next Chapter Has a New Look!

As you may have noticed, STNC is sporting a new look!  It's all thanks to the awesome Lori at Imagination Designs:




This calls for a happy dance... an OWL happy dance!





If you need a new look for your own blog, Lori is your girl.  She does great work and the process was easy and painless (at least, from the customer stand point; I know Lori certainly did a lot of work!).

Don't forget to grab one of the cute new buttons that Lori has made.  If you already have one of my buttons, I hope you'll grab a new one.  Many, many thanks to Lori for doing such an amazing job.  I love my blog's new look! 

In My Mailbox - November 27, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme from The Story Siren where you can share your new acquisitions. They can come from anywhere: through the mail, via the library, purchased from a store, or downloaded as ebooks. It's up to you!

Hello, hello!  It's been a few weeks since my last vlog, but here I am with another one.  Pardon me if I'm a little rusty.  It's been a crazy couple of weeks, so I am glad to finally get to do another IMM post at last.  I'm not editing the film this week, as I've not had the best of luck with computer programs today.  As such, I've included release dates & publisher info in the list below.  This week is going to be a good one, as my birthday is coming up, my Bump in the Night giveaway ends, and my new blog design will go live!  I hope you all will love it just as much as I do.  Many thanks to Lori from Imagination Designs for doing such a great job.  Now on to what you're probably waiting for... the books!

Purchased

 The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

The Devouring by Simon Holt

SoulStice by Simon Holt

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Won/Review

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink (March 20, 2012 from Dial) - won from LibraryThing

Allegiance by Cayla Kluver (February 28, 2012 from Harlequin Teen) - from Netgalley

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (January 3, 2012 from Feiwel & Friends) - from Netgalley

New Girl by Paige Harbison (January 31, 2012 from Harlequin Teen) - from Netgalley

Waiting on Wednesday: November 23, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the image above will take you straight to her post and widget. (Special note: The nifty button above comes from Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Isn't it pretty?)

This week, I have my eye on an upcoming paranormal thriller.  Harbinger, by Sara Wilson Etienne will hit shelves on February 2, 2012 and I simply can not wait!  This book sounds so intriguing, plus there is something just lovely about the cover.

From Goodreads:

Girl, Interrupted meets Beautiful Creatures in this fast-paced thriller

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her—and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

The Mythology Behind Kersten Hamilton's Goblin Wars Series, Plus a Giveaway!

Today I have something special for all of my readers here at Starting the Next Chapter.  It is November 22, meaning that the latest installment in Kersten Hamilton's Goblin Wars series, In the Forests of the Night, has just hit store shelves!  I recently received an email from Kersten Hamilton who has been so kind of offer up a special prize for one lucky STNC reader.  More about that later, though.  First up, I have written a little something regarding the mythology behind the characters and places in the Goblin Wars books.  Having long been a mythology and folklore buff, especially when it comes to mythology of the Irish persuasion, I thought I would prepare a little glossary of some of the names and terms found within the series for all of you so that you will have a better idea of just what the inspiration of Tyger Tyger and In the Forests of the Night is.  Remember to keep reading, as there will be a giveaway announcement at the end of the post!

photo from The Ireland Newsletter

Finn MacCumhaill - pronounced Finn MacCool; hero of the Fenian cycle of Irish lore; legendary chieftain in charge of the Fianna Éireann, a band of warriors renowned for their hunting and battle prowess and whose purpose was to protect the Ard Rí na Éireann (high king of Ireland); said to possess gifts such as poetry, second sight, and healing; often portrayed as a giant and is associated with the creation of the Giants' Causeway in Northern Ireland, which he is said to have created in order to aid other giants in making the crossing between Ireland and Scotland


Mag Mell - "plain of joy;" believed to be a paradise that plays home to the dead; described as either an idyllic island or a grand place found at the bottom of the ocean; believed to be ruled by Mannanan mac Lir, a sea god associated with the Tuatha dé Danann; also known as Tir na n-Og ("land of youth")

photo from Mike's Blog

Phooka -  Irish goblins known for their shape-shifting capabilities that are often believed to take on the form of a goat, dog, or bull; also known for being vicious tricksters with destructive ways; it was believed that to leave a crop unharvested after Samhain (pronounced "sow-wen" and the basis for what is now known as Halloween) was to lose the crop altogether, as it was then believed to belong to the phookas; to attempt to cut a phooka's crop was to invite the death of one's cattle





Fear Doirich - "dark man;" the druid known for having turned Finn MacCumhaill's future wife, Sabdh, into a deer; though Finn spared her (having been alerted to her human status by his once-human hounds) and returned her to her human state, Fear Doirich turned her once again into a deer, after which she vanished; she gave birth to their son, Oisin, during this time, who Finn was later reunited with after seven years


Fir Bolg - "bag men;" known in Irish mythology as one of the races to have inhabited Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha dé Danann; fought in the battle of Mag Tuired against the Tuatha dé Danann, where they were defeated and granted possession of either Connacht or the Aran Islands


Amergin - name of two famous Irish poets; one was a druid, bard, and judge, the other, a warrior poet; credited with having supernatural talent; the first Amergin is that who is credited with the creation of "The Song of Amergin," one of Ireland's most prized poems; the second Amergin is described as having a honeyed tongue and was the chief bard of Ulster (Northern Ireland)

photo from Sluagh

Sluagh - a flock of evil spirits said to have been barred entrance into the afterlife; often described as dark birds that fly from the west in an attempt to capture the souls of the newly dead; thought to be the Irish version of the Wild Hunt








What do you think?  Pretty interesting stuff, huh?  There is so much more to learn about Irish mythology and folklore.  I highly recommend seeing what is out there!  You're probably wondering what the big giveaway is, though, so why don't we move along with things?  Kersten Hamilton has offered up something special for one lucky reader.  I will be hosting a giveaway for Kersten, for which the prize is one, brand new copy of her book 1 of the Goblin Wars series, Tyger Tyger.

Very generous, no?  This is another US only giveaway, as Kersten will be taking care of the purchase of the book.  What do you have to do?  Simply enter via the handy Rafflecopter widget below the page break.  I have given you several chances to earn entries, so good luck to all of those who will be vying for this prize!  However, be sure to enter your GFC name in the main entry box, otherwise I have no way of verifying readership. 

P.S. Don't forget to check out my reviews of both books.  Comment on one or both and earn extra entries into the giveaway!  You can find my review of Tyger Tyger HERE and my review of In the Forests of the Night HERE.

Special Note

For a limited time, you can get the ebook format of Tyger Tyger for $2.99 from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple.  Step lively, all you ereader aficionados!  Make sure you don't miss out on this one, because it will be gone after November 29th!

Top Ten Tuesday (2): Authors I'd Love to Have at My Thanksgiving Feast

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme from The Broke and the Bookish.  The purpose of this meme is to create a list based on weekly prompts.  Just link back to The Broke and the Bookish, then add your name and blog post to their link widget.  That's it!

I think I'm hooked on this meme.  I had a lot of fun with it last week, so this could very well be a regular thing for me.  In any case, I looked ahead last week to see what this week's topic would be and knew I just had to participate this week, as well.

Top Ten Authors I'd Love to Have at My Thanksgiving Feast

Julie Kagawa, author of The Iron Fey series and the upcoming Blood of Eden series - From the writing, to the tweets, to the signing I attended where she was a participating author, I think Julie would be a blast to sit down for good food and conversation with.

Amy Plum, author of the Revenants series, including Die for Me and the upcoming Until I Die - After going completely bananas over Die for Me, I would love to have dinner with Amy Plum.  It would be a lot of fun to talk books, Paris, and Vincent, er, revenants.  Yeah, revenants... *blink blink*

Jackson Pearce, author of As You Wish and the Fairy Tale Re-Tellings series of books, including Sisters Red, Sweetly, and the upcoming Fathomless - Jackson was great at the Southern Festival of Books, so she would definitely be a nice addition to this ultimate Thanksgiving dinner of awesome.

Kersten Hamilton, author of the Goblin Wars series, including Tyger Tyger and the newly released In the Forests of the Night - How can I not invite an author who has been inspired so much by Irish mythology to the party?  It's a no-brainer for me, plus I have so much more gushing to do over In the Forests of the Night.

Maggie Stiefvater, author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, the Books of Faerie series, and The Scorpio Races - I laughed so, so much at her signing in Nashville this past summer, plus I love her books.  I'd have to be insane not to invite her to the feast.

Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray - Simply put, Ruta is absolutely awesome.  I've met her twice now and she is simply a great person to talk to.  Not only that, but she lives not very far away from where I do!  With her knowledge and observations on history, she would be a great guest at Thanksgiving.

Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch and upcoming The Archived - Victoria is another author that I have had the pleasure of meeting twice.  She, too, is hilarious and would be another great addition to dinner, plus, have you read The Near Witch!?  Come on!  It's amazing!

Rachel Hawkins, author of the Hex Hall series - Ash2Nash was a blast and I really enjoyed meeting Rachel, who was also a very, very funny lady.  There's nothing more fun than good food and laughter, so she is the perfect author to round out the festivities.

Review: Dearly, Departed

by Lia Habel
publisher: Del Rey
date of publication: October 18, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 470
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

What I Thought 

From the moment I first read the description of Dearly, Departed, I was taken over by an immense feeling of curiosity.  There are so many elements that I enjoy bound all together in one book, which made me wonder exactly how Lia Habel was going to make it all work together.  Lo and behold, not only does she make it work, but she does so with much humor and finesse.  Not only that, Ms. Habel has taken the narrative style above and beyond the typical two or three narrators one usually sees and has provided us with the perspectives of five different characters, which gives the book so many dimensions and allows the reader more of a glimpse into this strange new world.  Dearly, Departed lived up to my expectations and took me by surprise all at once, which is no small feat for one book.  It isn't every day that one comes across steampunk-zombie-historical-yet-futuristic romance.  Put simply, I am astounded, intrigued, and very, very happy.

The society and setting in which Dearly, Departed takes place is a novel take on Victorian, steampunk, and futuristic elements.  The New Victorians confused me, at first, as I didn't see the steampunk elements within their society.  While they dress and behave in the manner of Victorians, they are very much reliant upon modern technology, meaning everything is digital and computerized.  It wasn't until I started learning more about their sworn enemies, the Punks, that I understood.  "Punks" is short for "steampunks," which is apparent based on their use of steam power and clockwork.  Once this was understood, the world encompassed in this book made much more sense and I was able to appreciate the ways in which the characters behave all the more.  

Nora Dearly, the heroine of our story, at first appears to be the epitome of a well-bred Victorian young lady.  However, there is more to her than that.  Underneath it all, she is a free spirit who wishes for more independence and adventure than she sees in her straight-laced life.  Her friend, Pamela, is closer to what is expected of Nora, though she, too, has dreams and a desire for more, though she doesn't know exactly what that more is.  These two girls made for fantastic narrators and left me unsure as to who I preferred more when it came to taking matters into their own hands.  Both are enjoyable to read about and are lent great narrative voices.  They each have their own distinctive tone and way of thinking, making telling the two apart very easy.  As for Bram, our zombie captain, I was very much surprised.  I wasn't exactly sure what I should expect from him, but he turned out to be a wonderfully engaging character.  While he is the most well-preserved of the zombie troop, it is apparent that he is dead.  There is no escaping that fact due to the descriptions of his skin, eyes, and gait.  I was a little unsure of what I thought of his relationship with Nora, at first, but he presents himself so well that it's very hard not to root for him in the end.  This is all due to the superb writing of Lia Habel, who turned a normally menacing being into a more humanized version that evokes sympathy and warmth.

If you are looking for a new approach to zombie novels, you will be hard-pressed finding something better than Dearly, Departed.  The writing that can be found in this book is descriptive, evocative, and, overall, a breath of fresh air.  There is a certain tongue-in-cheek level of quirkiness mixed with an intriguing sweetness that I couldn't help but fall for.  I think you will, too.

 

TGIF: November 18, 2011

TGIF is a created by the awesome Ginger at GReads! Every Friday there is a new question to answer and new bloggers to meet.  You can also summarize the past week on your blog.  Ginger poses some really good questions, so hop aboard!

This week's question is:

Giving Thanks: Which books are you most thankful for receiving from other bloggers, friends, family members, or publishers?

I have a solid handful of books that I am most thankful for.  For simplicity's sake, I'll highlight my favorites from each type of giver.

The book I am most thankful for receiving from another blogger was won in a giveaway held by Bewitched Bookworms.  That book is a signed copy of Amy Plum's Die for Me, definitely one of my favorite books of the year.  

The books I'm most thankful for receiving from a friend is Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater.  My dear friend since childhood and ultimate book buddy, Nikki from Books Most Wanted, and her hubs bought these books for me at the Maggie Stiefvater signing we attended in August.  I had read Lament and loved it, but had yet to read Ballad.  I was able to get them signed along with my copy of Forever, and now I will be able to treasure them for years to come.

The book I am most grateful for receiving from a family member comes from my own hubby, who bought a copy of Fateful by Claudia Gray for me.  He has bought other books for me, but this one is particularly fantastic, and I am so glad he was thoughtful enough to purchase it for me. 

Finally, the book I am most thankful for receiving from a publisher comes from the wonderful folks at Scholastic.  They sent me a much exclaimed over ARC of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, which is now my favorite Stiefvater book to date.  I devoured this book and immediately wanted to read it over and over again.  I'll always be grateful that they gave me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This Week at Starting the Next Chapter

In My Mailbox - November 13, 2011

Review: Birthmarked

Top Ten Tuesday (1): Unread Books on My Shelf

Review: Prized

Waiting on Wednesday: November 16, 2011

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Review: Legend

Review: Legend

by Marie Lu
publisher: Putnam Juvenile
date of publication: November 29, 2011
format: ARC
pages: 336
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

What I Thought 

I wasn't exactly sure what to think of this book, at first.  I started out in a state of confusion due to some rather illogical events that take place.  It is a given that Day is involved in actions against the government.  However, I am pretty sure that a chunk of ice dipped in gasoline would not wield a flammable ice ball.  I am fairly good in science, but just to be sure I asked my husband, who knows a lot more and has a scientifically-based degree.  He confirmed my thoughts on the matter.  However, I digress.  What I am trying to say is that there were several examples such as this in the book that threw me off and distracted me from becoming immersed in the story.  This held true for much of part 1.  It wasn't until I began to read part 2 that I became more satisfied and willing to continue with the story.

The world in which Legend takes place is a fractured, corrupt place that leaves little for those not working within the government.  What was once the United States has split up to become warring factions seeking dominance, land, and who knows what else.  It is a truly troubling place and very alarming in the grand scheme of things.  The level of corruption present is horrifying and the lengths some individuals are willing to go for personal success is sickening.  This is the world in which June and Day must exist.  Though from starkly different backgrounds, the two have much more in common that at first meets the eye.  It all comes down to where and how each was raised.  I enjoyed the duality of these characters as much as I enjoyed their differences.  They played very well off each other, which definitely helped me get past my earlier complaints with the story.  The plot surrounding them, while slow to gain momentum, was an intriguing one.  The Trials all 10 year olds must face sound harrowing, unfair, and, once again, corrupt.  Several of the other covert workings of the government are truly horrifying and left me feeling very angry at those who knew what they were doing and lacked the decency to care about it.  This book is most definitely capable of drawing out a reader's emotions, as well as their interests and more ponderous leanings.

Even with my mixed feelings, I wound up enjoying Legend in the end.  The relationships between the characters are well-portrayed and the idea behind this society is an interesting, if not intimidating, one.  I would definitely say that Legend is a worthwhile read, so long as you stick with it if you, too, find you are having difficulties with the first half.  The details improve exponentially the more the plot progresses, leading me to believe that the second book in this series will be even better.  I will be looking forward to seeing what Day and June will have to endure next.  If their ways of handling things are anything like they were in Legend, book 2 is going to be stellar.  

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

From Bookish:

Challenge guidelines: 

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
   
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
   
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
   
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL. 
11. You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Hosts:
Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie
Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown
Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog
Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss
Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette
Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

This is going to be my final challenge for 2012.  I have a large amount of unread books sitting on my shelf, just waiting to be read.  What better motivation than a reading challenge?  I'm going to aim for the maximum number of the A Friendly Hug level (20).  That should get me caught up on the books I've purchased this past year and still allow me time to read review books.  I can't wait to participate in all of the fun challenges that are coming up in 2012, as well as reading even more awesome books!